The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-03-04
washington Letter.
ttrom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. y, 1887.

of Representatives 10 pass the Dependent
Pension bill over the Presidents veto.
Crowds of spectators filed the galleries,
and the debate. which was quite interest
ing. at times became exciting by Interrupt
lions, personalities and singing retorts.
There was much noise and confusion. and
the scenes upon the floor were such as
have not. within a long while been wit
messed there.
Three hundred members were present at
the time the vote was taken. and 200 at
iirmatiye votes were therefore necessary to
pass the bill over the veto. But the final
vote was 10 yeas to 123 nays. which
showed that % Democrats changed their
votes since the bill originally passed.
To what extent this veto by the Presi-
dent and the support given him by the
House will enter as elements iifto the great
political campaigns of the coming year
cannot be clearly predicted, but that these
points will be worked for all they are
worth By the leaders of The Republican
party admits of little doubt
1t was right courageous act on the
part of the President to veto this bill,
knowing the hostile sentiment that it
would arouse against him throughout the
country. 1t is conceded that the Demo-
Gratis also who first voted for the measure
and then determined to sustain the Presi-
dent, exhibited good deal Of courage,
although it will be charged in the case of
some of the Northern members who
changed their votes that their motives were
not wholly disinterested.
Hon. 5 5. Cox, the New York Con-
gresham, who has been quite ill since
New Year, left his room for the first time
to be driven to the Capitol so that he
NIGH. vote to sustain the President veto.
He looked wan and worn and required the
aid of strong cane in moving about the
floor. He entered the hall quietly and al
most unnoticed, so that when his name
was announced in the roll-call and his voice
responded No everybody looked up in
surprise. In moment he was surrounded
by his colleagues who were disposed to sub
.itct him to 4 more vigorous handshaking
than his weak condition justified.
President Cleveland was the first to
learn that the Pension bill had been de-
feated. Before the roll-call had been com
pleted Speaker Carlisle handed a small
piece of paper to his clerk who was wait
ing, and who rushed Immediately FOR the
telegraph office in the corridor. 1mmedi-
ately the instrument was ticking, and be-
fore the vote had been announced in the
House, the President in the Executive
Mansion knew that his veto had been sus-
tanned
Work is accumulating With great rapid
ity upon the ident' 5 hands as the Con
gressional session draws to a close. He
remains at his desk long into the night ex-
aiming bills and tranSacting other bust
ness. His determination last year not 10
go TO the Capitol during the last hours to
hurrledly sign bills which he had not been
permitted to examine, gave great satisfae-
ton then and he will doubtless adhere 10
the same course at the approaching adj
journment. The best men in Congress
Of both sides thoroughly approved OF his
resolve not to make laws by aifixing his
names to measures which he had had no
chance to learn anything about.
The President has said in the last few
days that he did not see any special neces-
sity for calling an extra session of the
Fiftieth Congress, though ii Is possible he
may ask the Senate, which is permanent
ly organized body, to remain in session be
yond the fourth of March. There are
some important nominations which he
wants to submit but which he is not sure
he will have time to decide upon before
the end of this session. Among them are
the Interstate Commerce nominations and
those for Secretary of the Treasury and
United States Treasurer.
The question has arisen as to the Presi-
dents power to appoint the Interstate
Commerce Commissioners after the adj
journment Of the Senate. Some Of the
Senators argue that the Constitution does
not empower the Executive to appoint, dur
ing vacation, to a newly created Office
which is to be filled by and with the adj
vice and consent Of the Senate Others
hold that there is no difference between
filling new office and vacancy that may
occur during a vacation OF the Senate, and
that there are decisions by Attorney Gen
erals covering the point.
WESTON